Everyone goes through tough times. There’s no shame in it. Prayer sometimes helps us avoid them. Other times not. What matters most is the attitude we adopt in those moments. If we’re filled with anger or bitterness, persisting in complaining or blaming God, things tend to get worse. If we go through them giving thanks to God and praising Him, He has promised to bring something good out of it. He tells us:

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance” (James 1:2-3).

A wife’s prayers for her husband during such times won’t change all the circumstances they’re going through. After all, if we never experienced suffering, we would be superficial people, lacking compassion, and probably very impatient. But prayer can help him maintain a positive and grateful perspective, full of hope, patience, and peace through it all. It will keep him from reaping the bitter fruit of a wrong way to react.

My friend Jeanne saw her husband David come close to death from the bite of a venomous spider. It was a very difficult trial for both of them, lasting over a year during which he had to overcome all sorts of complications from the accident. Moreover, they had just moved to a new state, far from family, friends, and their church, not to mention the financial problem caused by astronomical medical bills. There were all the reasons to be angry and bitter, but they never let themselves give up prayer. They praised God and looked to Him as their source.

Through many tears and fears, Jeanne fervently prayed that David wouldn’t lose heart in the midst of the battle, but that he would stand firm against all odds. God sustained them, David recovered, and they became two of the richest people in the Lord you could ever meet. Not only that, but their three children are strong believers in the faith who use their wonderful talents to glorify God.

David took a position as a pastor responsible for all things praise and music in a church where they have a very fruitful ministry. Their lives testify to the goodness of the Lord, and I believe that how they went through this trial has much to do with what they’re experiencing today.

Whatever we may feel, when we serve God, His love watches over us at every moment of our existence, including in the toughest, loneliest, most painful, and desperate moments. He is always there with us, working all things together for our good when we pray and keep our eyes fixed on Him to do so.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

His intention, through our trials, is often to lead us to live in humility, the breaking of our independent and self-sufficient ego, to grow and become Christians who glorify God through their compassion, patience, and spiritual strength. He uses at least three situations to teach us to believe that He loves us and cares for us enough to help us through tough times.

I can’t think of any trial my husband and I have had to go through that didn’t deepen our relationship with God, even if we were unhappy during that difficult time and had no idea where it would lead us.

But by praying as we went through these chaotic passages, we saw our faith grow and our walk with God deepen. When our attitudes are right, our love for each other can only grow from it.

If your husband is going through tough times, carry him in prayer, but don’t carry the burden. Even if you’re tempted to, don’t try to take on his burden and make it your own. That will only end up contributing to making him feel weak and in a position of failure.

Moreover, God doesn’t ask you to do His work. He doesn’t want you to replace the Holy Spirit in your husband’s life. Even if you suffer seeing him struggle and want to help him, don’t take his place. You can pray, encourage, support him, but God uses our trials to accomplish His purposes, and you must let Him do so.

If your husband feels overwhelmed by things like financial pressure, illness, disability, unemployment, problems with children, marital conflicts, disasters, house crises, or strained relationships, invite the Holy Spirit to intervene in your circumstances and transform them. Help your husband keep the bigger picture in mind. Our sufferings will seem insignificant…

This text is an excerpt from the book “The Power Of A Praying Wife” written by Stormie Omartian.

We invite you to read the following article “A Wife’s Effective Prayer In Her Husband’s Finances“.

Trials